Water Walking

In a previous post, I spoke of having a recurring stream of thoughts, ideas, and scriptures for the last several months. It’s been rather like something is trying to be birthed within me … but how does one go about giving birth to something when you don’t yet know what it is? As I opened my heart to new possibilities, I also opened my Bible and began to look for instructions in His Word. After all, if God is truly leading me down a certain path, that path will be in agreement with His Word.

I am still in the process of seeking out those answers in full, opening my heart and my ears to receive instruction for the birthing of this new thing, this new season. As I do, I discover that I am most surely being led out into the deeper waters of faith. And eventually the time for investigating, praying, and consulting culminates with a decision.

Recently, the song “Oceans” by Hillsong UNITED has taken on a whole new meaning for me, especially the first two lines. We’ve been singing it at church for many months, but it was during a women’s event a few weeks back that the lyrics really clicked in my heart. I felt that I was most clearly being invited to stepout ontothe waters.

I’ve always considered myself a bit of a risk taker, but lets face it – the bigger the risk, the harder it is to take that first step. Especially if that first step is off the dry land and onto the wet!

And as we worshipped to this song, the Lord began to speak to my heart in images – something He often does (images which are frequently inspiration for my watercolors). And this is what the conversation He and I had during worship that night sounded like.

Water Walking

LORD: “Daughter, you are a delight to my heart and I am thrilled that you are putting your foot out over the waters for that bold first step. But if all you do is hover your foot over the waters, you will never reach the destination I’m calling you to. No, my daughter, you must actually put your full weight on that foot and begin to move forward, or you will remain at the shoreline.”

Me: “But we both know I can’t walk on water, Lord.”

LORD: “Look down, and tell me what you see beneath your feet?”

Me: “Dry sand, that eventually gives way to wet sand, that eventually gives way to water above the sand.”

LORD: “Give thought to that very fragile line of delineation, the very point of transition when the water ceases to be below the sand, or even equal to the sand, but is now above the sand. The water is only a few centimeters deep, but the water is above the sand line, correct?”

Me: “Yes, Lord.”

LORD: “Can you walk on water, daughter?”

Me: “No, Lord.”

LORD: “And yet, if I stood directly in front of you, and called you forward from dry land to stand upon even as little as 1 centimeter of water, would you believe me for it and take that first step?”

Me: “I believe I would Lord – I would respond to Your invitation.”

LORD: “Daughter, if you were ableto walk on top of even as little as 1 centimeter of water, the limitations of your mind and body would not even be able to register or perceive such an infinitesimal elevation. You have the faith to trust me for 1 centimeter of water-walking power, but what I want you to remember is that once you are walking on the water, the depth of the water is irrelevant. I’m asking you to take the first step from dry to wet. Do that, and leave the ocean to me.”

On my own, I know without a doubt that I am completely incapable of walking on water, regardless how shallow the water is. But in Him, I know that all things are possible … even walking on water (a symbol of walking in His empowerment over the circumstances of my life). And so are you!

In the weeks since that dialog, I’ve taken the first step forward out onto the waters, and then another after that. And this morning, as I pondered again the insanity of this journey, the Lord reminded me of other times when I’ve dared to trust Him and “water walk”. I first read the following scripture some 20+ years ago when I dared to “water walk” by leaving an abusive marriage. There were some mighty big waves in that ocean, let me tell you … but here I am, safely resettled on the other side!

I will bring the blind by a way they do not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16)

There have been many other “water walking” occasions since and in all of them, true to His word, He led through ways I did not know and has made dark places light before me, and crooked places straight. He has not forsaken.

And He still leads!

I would love to hear your thoughts and read about your stories (from either side of the ‘water walking’ adventure). Please take a moment to post a comment below.